February 4, 202, Budapest
On 4th of February in Budapest an international professional forum about public catering based on quality raw materials was organized. A Memorandum of Understanding (in Hungarian and English translation) for the sustainable economy was signed at this forum. The aim of the Memorandum is to support the social and environmental commonwell and to help those systems that try to develop the local food systems.
It was signed by:
-Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta
-Hungarian Social Farm Association
-Kemence Tradition Preservation Gastro-Cultural and Community Development Association
-Ethnic Folk High School Society
-Research Institute for National Strategy
-The Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture
-and the BOND consortium members: Kislépték (represents the interests of small-scale producers) and Védegylet (the organizer of the roundtable discussion)
The cooperating parties have expressed their commitment and assistance in achieving an environmentally and socially sustainable economy. The parties hereby support social enterprises, small farmers, family farms, their livelihoods and the functioning of local food systems.
The subject of green social catering, which also serves to strengthen local communities, provided an appropriate framework for signing the Memorandum.
The round-table discussion was within the framework of the BOND (Bringing Organisations & Network Development to higher levels in the Farming sector in Europe) project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework program for research and innovation.
eside the domestic and international experts representatives of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and of countries implementing green public catering (using organic and local ingredients) also attended the event. The participants got to know the French Mouans Sartoux’s (10.500 inhabitants city located in the French Riviera) organic public catering method, the initiative known as Diet for a Green Planet which is implemented by the Södertälje Municipality in Sweden, the Scottish National Food Policy Program and the italian initiative called Pappa Fish.
The participants discussed, explored, built and told the challenges of sustainable public catering and procurement, the challenges of the legislation and the related opportunities of the outbreak through a playful workshop method called LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.
In Hungary domestic catering is made more difficult by the 27% VAT (while catering sector already benefits from 5% VAT), while in other member states catering for children and for those in need can operate with zero or very low VAT.
The realization is prevented by the lack of skilled labour, kitchen staff (kitchen technology, diet preparation) and the producers’ lack of knowledge about business planning, administration, logistic, production methods, warehousing.
The quantitative limit on regular supply of quality raw materials is an obstacle. The participants framed specific policy proposals to facilitate the work of decision makers.
This document reflects only the autor’s view and the Agency and the Commission are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
